Levitt Freakonomics Analysis

Speaker-Steven D. Levitt, labeled as a “rogue economist” explores the causes behind many of the world's economic situations, such as how a woman’s fight for the right to abort her baby led to the decrease in criminals 50 plus years later, or how crack gangs show an uncanny resemblance to a capitalist enterprise. Levitt, sees beyond the average economist and looks to solve the riddles that define our economy today. Many people may see Levitt’s ideas as anything but economics. That is because Levitt sees deeper than the interest rates and inflation within the economy, he instead looks at what leads to the things to cause them. Levitt proves he is liable not only through him being an economic professor but through his facts. As described in the …show more content…
From start to finish, Freakonomics is a very factual novel with a comical side. Levitt and Dubner add humor towards their facts in order to keep the audience entertained. Within the fifth chapter of the book, the authors write about precautions obsessive parents go to and how they do not affect the future success of the child. After discussing the facts, Levitt and Dubner in parentheses write, “Obsessive parents know who they are and are generally proud of the fact; non-obsessive parents also know who the obsessives are and tend to snicker at them.” (Dubner Levitt 139). By adding in the remark thought by multiple “non obsessive” parents, the reader can interpret a humorous and comical tone.This helps to lighten the mood and not bore the reader Another tone that can be used to describe this text is honest. Throughout the duration of the novel, Levitt and Dubner do not sugarcoat their findings.For example, in the eyes of a parent, they want to feel as if their child is safe around a pool and want to believe that; however it is revealed in Freakonomics that “the likelihood of death by pool (1 in 11,000) versus death by gun (1 in 1 million-plus) isn’t even close.” (Dubner Levitt 136). They are not going to write what people want to hear, because they want to inform them on the conventional wisdom that the people believe, is wrong. Finally, Levitt and Dubner are unbiased from the beginning to the end. For example, when explaining abortion being legal or not, they make sure to equally defend and give evidence for both sides, and do not favor one. This helps in building an unbiased argument, that is based facts instead of their opinion and make sure not to give their own point of view on these controversial issues. All of the tones found within the novel helps to make their purpose more effective and the main idea be more